This document provides information on the groundwater situation for South London.
Flooding from groundwater can happen when the level of water within the rock or soil that makes up the land surface (known as the water table) rises. The level of the water table changes with the seasons due to variations in long term rainfall and water abstraction. When the water table rises and reaches ground level, water starts to emerge on the surface and flooding can happen.
Lead local flood authorities (the unitary or county council) are responsible for managing the risk of flooding from groundwater. They set out how they plan to do this in their local flood risk management strategies.
The Environment Agency has a strategic overview for all sources of flooding including groundwater. This means they will provide support to other risk management authorities. They supply information in the form of monitored groundwater levels. In some areas that have historically experienced groundwater flooding, the Environment Agency provide a groundwater alert or warning service.
Published 28 March 2014 Last updated 17 March 2023 +show all updates
Added groundwater update for South London as of 14 March 2023.
Current situation and short term situation updated.
The current situation for South London has been updated.
Updated with the groundwater situation for 14 February 2023.
1st 3 paras updated
16 January 2023 groundwater situation report added.
Current situation update changed and new graph added.
Updated current situation and new graph.
January 2022 figures added and new graph.
New report for December 2021 added.
Groundwater update for 24 February added.
South London groundwater situation report for 10 February 2020 added.
Latest update for Kent and S London groundwater added
Replaced November 2019 report with December 2019 report
Groundwater report for November 2019 added.
February groundwater situation report added.
December report added
March groundwater situation report added.
South London groundwater situation report updated.
